Key Highlights
Humanitarian Access Blocked:
For nearly a month, Israeli authorities have blocked humanitarian organizations from delivering food to people in besieged areas of North Gaza.
Food Supply Shortages:
Over 100 kitchens in central and southern Gaza, producing around 400,000 meals daily, are at risk of shutting down due to supply shortages.
Healthcare Crisis:
Conditions in North Gaza are critical, with Kamal Adwan Hospital hit twice and essential supplies to Al Awda Hospital denied.
Explosive Hazards:
Over 42 million tons of rubble and numerous explosive hazards threaten civilians. Entry for personnel and equipment for disposal remains restricted.
Journalists Targeted:
Ten percent of Gaza's journalists have been killed since October 2023. Foreign journalists are banned from entry by Israeli authorities.
Humanitarian Developments
Continuous Bombardment:
The Gaza Strip faces ongoing Israeli bombardments, leading to civilian casualties, displacement, and infrastructure destruction. A ground offensive since 6 October in North Gaza has severely restricted humanitarian aid and communications.
Mass Displacement and Fatalities:
An estimated 100,000 people have been displaced from North Gaza, with hundreds, potentially over 1,000, dead. Fighting and airstrikes around the Jabalya refugee camp intensified evacuations from northern areas.
Escalating Casualties:
Between 29 October and 5 November, 330 Palestinians were killed, and 1,124 were injured. Since 7 October, more than 43,391 Palestinians and 1,568 Israelis have been reported killed, with casualties among both military and civilian populations.
Notable Incidents:
Multiple fatal airstrikes between 28 October and 3 November targeted civilian areas and IDP shelters, causing numerous casualties, including incidents at Beit Lahiya, Jabalya camp, and An Nuseirat refugee camp.
International Condemnation:
UNICEF and other humanitarian organizations have condemned the indiscriminate strikes on civilians, with calls for intervention to prevent further child casualties.
Appeals for Civilians’ Safety:
UN and humanitarian organizations urge the State of Israel to protect civilians, stop the assault on Gaza, and allow humanitarian aid, stressing that disregard for humanitarian principle' must end.
Health Sector Crisis
Hospital Attacks:
Kamal Adwan and other hospitals in North Gaza face extreme challenges, including multiple attacks. WHO reported critical damages and shortages of medical resources, with injuries to staff and patients.
Essential Aid Delivery:
Despite heavy bombardment, WHO and other agencies managed to deliver essential fuel and medical supplies to Kamal Adwan. However, the facility remains overwhelmed with patients and limited staff.
Urgent Need for Medical Teams:
With inadequate resources, the hospital director emphasizes the urgent need for specialized surgical teams and ambulances to aid trapped civilians.
Al Awda Hospital Crisis:
Al Awda Hospital faces closure due to a lack of supplies. Although five critical patients were transferred to Al Shifa Hospital, Israeli authorities did not permit the delivery of essential supplies.
The facility desperately needs fuel, medicines, consumables, blood units, food, and water. Staff have been injured, and ambulances are out of service.
Indonesian Hospital Resumes Partial Operations:
The Indonesian Hospital has resumed partial functionality as of 29 October but lacks fuel and essential medical supplies.
Humanitarian Coordinator Visit:
Muhannad Hadi, the Humanitarian Coordinator, visited Gaza on 5 November, noting appalling conditions at an UNRWA shelter school. He highlighted the lack of basic necessities and called for an end to the conflict.
Healthcare System Strain:
A rehabilitated "mini-hospital" at Al Shifa serves as a critical referral point for North Gaza, conducting nine surgeries daily.
Al Rantisi Paediatric Hospital is set to resume next week following damage closure since November 2023.
Polio Vaccination Campaign:
The third phase of polio vaccination began on 2 November in North Gaza, despite a smaller humanitarian pause area and some incidents affecting the campaign.
Agricultural Devastation:
The FAO reports massive livestock losses, with 95% of cattle dead and 43% of sheep remaining. Destruction of agricultural infrastructure has worsened food insecurity.
Severe Food Shortages:
WFP warns of potential famifne, with 80% of Gaza’s population missing food rations in October. The number of meals distributed has declined significantly due to supply shortages and restricted access.
Explosive Ordnance (EO) Contamination:
Explosive remnants of war pose risks across Gaza, with extensive contamination and 42 million tons of rubble reported. Mine Action teams face restrictions, limiting their ability to clear EO.
Aid Access and Movement Restrictions:
A significant portion of aid movements have been denied or impeded. Coordination with Israeli authorities is challenging, with a 115% increase in denied movements to North Gaza from September to October.
Medical Evacuations:
Between October and November, 130 critical patients were evacuated from North Gaza hospitals, mostly to Al Shifa, under complex and restrictive access conditions.
Israeli Laws Affecting UNRWA Operations:
On 28 October, Israel's Knesset passed two laws prohibiting Israeli authorities from interacting with UNRWA and banning the agency's work in areas under Israeli control, effective in three months.
If implemented, the laws could prevent UNRWA from delivering essential services across the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), including East Jerusalem, impacting 2.5 million registered Palestine refugees.
In Gaza, where UNRWA supports health, food, shelter, and education for nearly 70% of the population, this would undermine the last lifeline for many, including schooling for 660,000 children.
Impact on Journalists in Gaza:
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate reported that since October 2023, 174 journalists in Gaza have been killed (10% of Gaza's journalists), 101 injured, and 30 detained.
Additionally, 514 family members of journalists were killed, with 115 journalist homes hit.
The UN Secretary-General condemned these attacks and the ban on international journalists' entry into Gaza, highlighting press freedom as essential.
Funding for Humanitarian Needs in Gaza and the West Bank:
As of 5 November, $2 billion has been disbursed out of the $3.42 billion requested to support 2.3 million people in Gaza and 800,000 in the West Bank.
The oPt Humanitarian Fund (oPt HF) is managing 90 projects totaling $79.6 million, primarily in Gaza, addressing needs in education, food security, health, and shelter, among others.
A $30 million allocation is being finalized for immediate relief efforts, focusing on winterization and urgent needs for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and vulnerable groups.
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